It is been a bad week so far for Liverpool. After Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final 4-0 humbling at Manchester City, the Reds then went down to a 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg loss at Paris Saint-Germain.
While Arne Slot's side remain in the tie, on current form, it would take some turnaround for them to overturn the two-goal deficit and knock out the holders.
But there is simply no time for Liverpool to feel sorry for themselves. Before the second leg against PSG on Tuesday (April 14), the defending champions face a vitally important Premier League match at home to Fulham on Saturday.
And ahead of that crucial double-header, our Reds fans' jury have returned to have their say...
It was a demoralising defeat in Paris. It is the result we expected, but that does not soften the blow. For years we have been revered and feared in Europe, but we have now become the club that teams don't mind playing against. Worst still, the opposition expect victory.
It was deeply disappointing not to summon up one shot on target in a big European quarter final. Yes, PSG are a talented team, and yes, they are current European champions, but where was the aggression? The brawling? Where was the skill, the hunger, the desire?
Arne Slot mentioned survival mode in his post-match interview, which seemed to be an echo of the years we spent under Brendan Rogers where the big European nights at times felt like damage control. Such a defeatist attitude runs contrary to our DNA, for European success runs in our blood. The truth of the matter is that Slot has been in survival mode for some time now, and the walls are closing and the roof is collapsing.
Perhaps the most alarming issue for fans is that we look some way off being and looking like a top team despite the wealth of talent at our disposal. The Man City and PSG games were illuminating because they demonstrate how far we have fallen.
I hope we get dust up at Anfield next week in the return tie. With a team bereft of confidence, can they really turn this tie around?
The Anfield atmosphere will give the fuel, but it’s for the manager and players to show the grit and fight. Although it is bleak aim given our recent success, top five may salvage some semblance of pride this year.
Well, it’s fair to say that these have been a testing, at times humbling, few days for Liverpool. Saturday’s FA Cup exit at Manchester City and Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat at Paris Saint-Germain were each chastening and displayed a concerning gulf.
These were games that reflected standards being unacceptably low and, primarily in midweek, apparent attempts to adapt to that and the excellence of the opposition. Not a wholly illogical approach, but one that was questionably implemented.
It is, though, worth emphasising that it remains difficult to assess how much various factors – controllable or otherwise – have contributed to the issues seen now and in recent months. There was evidence of greater durability in the French capital, at least. Tuesday’s Anfield return leg can still be approached with intrigue and excitement.
Saturday’s visit of Fulham is up first, of course. Another big game as we pursue a top-five Premier League place. The performance must set a more proactive tone, while a Mohamed Salah start feels additionally likely after his omission in Paris.
We’ll also see the start of Anfield protests against ticket-price rises. It feels important to stress that – among various outlooks on this issue – a shared desire to aid the future of the club, and football, can represent a productive, overarching, theme.
Hopefully the next week will contribute to short and long-term benefits.
Paul Wheelock is the head of sport at the Liverpool ECHO, overseeing Everton FC and Liverpool FC coverage, having previously held the position of content editor and Blood Red: Liverpool FC podcast and video editor. He used to be a football club correspondent, reporting on Blackburn Rovers for the Lancashire Telegraph and Chester FC for the Chester Chronicle.
